Is the So What voicing used only when the melody is the 5th is in the melody? Any other time?

The “So What” Chord 3-4-4-4 (from top down) is the chameleon of voicings. It can be a major, minor or sis chord depending on the root. I think it is too limiting to think of only using the fifth in the melody. My main way of using it is to think of the voicing from the top-down.